Our Experience

As a parent myself I understand the anxiety involved in packing off your child to the other side of the world.  So to help I have put together this 'space' to direct you to relevant advice and information, to help alleviate any unanswered questions and to instil confidence in your child's decision.

I grew up in Kenya and spent part of my gap year working in a Kenyan National Park before a Commission with the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. My wife Milly and I have been organising gap years since 1994. We have extensive experience of operating successful gap year placements and in addition to our resident in-country project leaders and staff we also have a wide contact base overseas (Foreign Office staff, ex military, insurance, political, medical rescue etc).

Please read Our Mission and Responsible Travel Policy.

My Leap
We have a private community area for parents and volunteers who have booked, which reflects the advice we give Leapers on pre-departure Briefing Days.
 
•    Training
•    Safety
•    Values
•    Travel Advice
•    Keep in Touch (emergency numbers for 24/7 support)
•    Insurance
•    T shirts and hoodies
•    Incident Updates (if applicable)
•    Leap Feedback
•    Visas
•    Health
•    Flights
•    Raising the Cash/ Finance 
•    Kit Lists

Who’s in charge?
We are a small friendly company specialising in personal development through travel, with an experienced, professional and caring team both here in the UK and Overseas.

Milly and I have been organizing gap years since 1994 and have sent over 2500 volunteers overseas since starting The Leap in 2002.

Our UK team have taken their own a gap years (or two!), career breaks or are well travelled and so fully understand the motivations and practicalities of embarking on such a journey. Overseas our experienced, English speaking project leaders will look after your child. Experts in their field and passionate about their projects, they will ensure your placement runs smoothly from start to finish and can even help you to plan your independent travels.

“Jess has said that her project leaders were, fun, patient, helpful, kind, supportive and just really, really nice people.” Mrs Munden

“I truly can't thank you all enough for all your work and kindness in planning Robert’s gap year. He travelled alone to Heathrow and had no problem meeting up with the others in his team at check in. I told him "Watch out for a tall blonde sparkly girl" and hence he found Alice from The Leap!” Mrs Burns

Overall we will ensure that your son or daughter receive:
•    A placement that meets their needs with everything planned by us in advance.
•    Join a team of like minded ‘leapers’ of a similar age to enjoy the placement and travel with afterwards. Most  Leapers sign up as individuals but make friends for life – travelling together once the placement has ended, holding reunions and even going back to their placements to meet local friends.

We would be very happy to put you in touch with past 'leapers’ or their parents so you can ask them what they thought.

Matching expectations, safety and operational excellence guide all we do.

“Unlike some other gap organisations which do not live up to their claims, the leap delivers. It also maintains great communication with students and their parents’ Mrs Alexander

“My life has been given a totally new dimension through my experience in Kenya with The Leap. I had a very rewarding and at the same time fun 6 weeks. I met a fantastic bunch of interesting people and enjoyed every minute of it.” Ed Vey

“I just wanted to say ‘thank you’.  Elizabeth is safely home from Argentina having had a fabulous time.  She is happy, confident, tanned, toned, laid back and in great spirits! Could we ask for more?” Mrs Healy

Guy Whitehead, Founder & Managing Director